UNICEF reunites 2,474 children with families in Borno

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday said it had supported the rehabilitation and reintegration of 2,474 children, cleared of links with Non-State Armed Groups (NSGOs), in Borno in the past two years.

Ms. Gillian Walker, the UNICEF Representative (D) Field Office in Maiduguri, disclosed this at the handover ceremony of 25 children cleared of links with armed conflict, at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

Walker disclosed that the UN agency in collaboration with the International Organization of Migration (IMO) and Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs had provided shelter, protection, psycho-social, and other lifesaving services to the children since the inception of the programme in 2017.


She said that 1,627 of the 2,474 children cleared of association with armed groups had been reintegrated with their families and communities.

Walker said: “Although we have made progress for the successful reintegration of children cleared of association with armed groups, a lot still need to be done. There are still children in the ranks and file of armed groups. Children should belong to their families. We call on all parties in the conflict to stop recruiting and using children in any role. We will continue until no children are being used in the conflict,” she said.